178 workers fall ill after gas leak in Vizag plant

At least 178 women working at a chemical plant in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam fell sick after a gas leak, state’s industrial minister Gudivada Amarnath said on Friday. The gas leak occurred at a factory in Atchutapuram in Visakhapatnam, which also hubs Porus Laboratories Pvt Ltd, a veterinary drugs company.

Anakapalle SP Gautami Sali said “at present all workers’ health is stable (and) no casualties (have been) reported”. The source of the gas leak is not yet confirmed and it is being investigated by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board and police officials.

It was initially speculated that the gas could have been leaked from the Porus Laboratories Pvt Ltd. The forensic teams have arrived at the spot and are identifying the source of gas leak.